From the monthly archives:

July 2009

Don't Be A Crab!

by Alan Rider

Don’t be a crab fisherman in Alaska, that is.  If you’re wondering why, just watch a couple of these clips (especially #10 Weather) from Discovery Channel’s hit reality series Deadliest Catch and, trust me, you’ll understand.
The show, which follows a handful of Alaskan crab fishing boats on the storm-tossed Bering Sea, has developed a surprisingly sizeable following over the past five seasons.  And now fans can get an up-close-and-personal look at these commercial fishermen’s world without having to brave the monster waves and brutal cold that go with the job.
Since one of our guiding principles states that “Reality kicks virtual reality’s butt every time,” we’ll only mention the Deadliest Catch: [...]

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Going "Postal"?

by Alan Rider

Look, I spend a lot of time online and like drooling over the latest high-tech toys as much as the next guy.  But I also realize that there are an awful lot of stubbornly low-tech folks out there who remain convinced this whole email thing is just another passing fad.
Which is precisely what makes this new goPostal iPhone application so cool.  Once you download the free app from the iTunes Store, you’ll be able to shoot photos with your iPhone’s built-in camera, add your personal message and an address, and send the image as an actual full-color postcard via good old-fashioned snail mail.  If you don’t have an iPhone yet, [...]

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Picture Perfect

by Alan Rider

Over the last, oh, century or so National Geographic has developed a well-deserved reputation for stunning photography.  In fact, I think it’s safe to say having even a single image published in the magazine would be a dream come true for any serious amateur photographer.
Which is exactly why I think this new contest from WorldNomads.com, Gap Adventures, and the National Geographic Channel sounds like such an extraordinary experience.  The winner will accompany noted wildlife photographer Jason Edwards as he shoots an assignment for the magazine in Antarctica November 22-December 2 and will have their photos and journal entries from the trip put up online for all the world to see.  [...]

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Summer Skirmishes

by Alan Rider

Okay, time for a show of hands: How many of you out there grew up playing army? You know, running through the woods attacking an imaginary enemy in mock battles where there was just as much glory in leading your squad to victory as there was in faking a highly melodramatic death?
Well, the annual War And Peace Show in Kent, England later this month takes that familiar childhood fantasy to a whole ‘nother level.  In fact, the four-day event pretty well proves that old line about the difference between men and boys being the price of their toys is more than just another cliché.
One of the largest events of its [...]

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